lloydslensphotographyllc

The Trapper Part One

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “White Bend 120220” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Standing on the little bridge over Peter’s Creek I close my eyes and listen to the trickles of Peter’s Creek as it gently makes it’s way to the Gauley River. The water speaks to those who listen. The Creek remembers the entire history of planet earth. Remembers the Hopewell people who hunted Bison with the spear and the Shawnee. And the creek remembers a particular trapper in those days. He wore buckskin clothes and a medicine hat adorned with trade items. His bright red beard flowed and covered most of his chest. He navigated the creeks and rivers in a small boat with a swivle gun on the bow which he used to take multiple waterfowl in one shot. It was on a snowy day like this that while loading the cannon his boat became unbalanced and capsized. He emerged from the water well enough but in the deep cold of winter his wet clothes quickly became a liability. The trapper managed to keep his hatchet which was worn in a leather sheath on a beaded strap across his shoulder. He removed his wet clothes and hung them up on the windward side of a thicket of yojng cedar trees. In their condition he couldn’t have them next to his skin but he could block the wind with them. The lower branches of the surrounding forest had some dead branches that he easily collected with his hatchet and would make a good fire. He also collected the the Goldenrod that grew on the edge of the a nearby clearing.

Image Titled “Gold Becomes Silver 22320” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The trapper had hoped to find a piece of flint or chert to strike a spark with his hatchet but the bones of this mountain are sandstone and granite and were not hard enough to do the task. He would have to spin a fire before the chill of the air robbed his muscles of the ability to do work.

… to be continued.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Proceed to The Trapper Part 2

Announcement:

I am adding additional social media to my network. Eventually, I’ll be leaving Facebook behind for a multitude of reasons. Even though the Lloyd’s Lens Photography page is strictly non-political I have been restricted from interacting with followers with no explanation for why. But it’s not just that. For years now Facebook has throttled content providers in general. They encourage us to grow our audience and then want to sell us back the access to them. In addition, they collect and sell the data from our interaction. So Facebook has become an entanglement of thorns. In response I have created the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe. We can still interact directly on the blog but starting today I’ll be looking for more platforms that respect the privacy of my followers and don’t limit who gets to see the post.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Lloyds Lens Photography web link — Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

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I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

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The Last Hunt?

Color Photography, winter

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Visions Of The Redbird In Winter 120220” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The old man eased way down the snow covered trail using his lance for support. His fur covered boots were warm but they didn’t really aid him in finding traction on the ice. He’s served his family well in his years as a good hunter and now his sons were the ones who bought back the bounty of the landscape. But he still liked to walk out to his spot in the forest and wait for the game to present itself. He could still cast his spear and find the mark with it’s stone blade but he knew that the day when he would have to set his spear aside would be here all too soon. He would place it in a place of honor in his lodge along with some extra points to pass down to grandson. He sat still occasionally closing his eyes as he listened closely to the birds. He could shift his focus with ears and find the holes in the chatter and that would tell him where his sons were in the thick and tangled underbrush. He would know if they moved and he would know if they were still. The cold snow fell all around him but his fur lined clothes kept him from feeling the chill. He noticed the red leaves of the raspberry and how an insect had carved a slice from one of the. It reminded him of the Redbird that sings. His aged eyes were not as sharp as they were when his hair was thick and as black as tar causing the leaves to look as though it was one piece. The occasional guest of wind made the leaves shake and it gave the appearance that the Redbird was flapping it’s wings. It was at that moment he realized something moved behind the brambles and the deer simply got up and looked straight into his eyes. For a moment the old man and his prey were connected as one. They began to breathe in time with each other. The old man cast his spear and it fell short of its target. The stone point shattered and the deer disappeared. The old hunter was disappointed but he accepted that this was the way of things. It was only natural that he would take his seat by the fire and wait for the sons he’d taught well to take his place as leaders of the hunt. With his spear shaft gone he would need a new stick to balance himself with as he made his way back to camp. He looked around and spotted some river cane nearby. One piece that was almost the right size lay broken on the edge of the canebrake. He took out his knife and began to trim off the shattered end and then he cut the top to the right length. But then he noticed that the cane was hollow. On a whim he picked up the sharp pieces that he’d trimmed off and stuck one in the end of cane to see how far down it would fall. It went all the way through. He carried the cane back to his perch and carved a point on the end of one of the slivers and bound some grass on the end to make a plug. But it was a little loose and he would have to try again. The plug was tight enough that it didn’t want to fall out when he shook it so following his natural instincts he placed one end in his mouth and gave a quick puff. The splinter flew out of the other end stuck in the leaves that resembled the Redbird. The old hunter immediately realized the potential of what he’d discovered. He might not ever cast his spear again but he could shoot little spears with his newly discovered pipe. The little spears would be enough to let him continue to hunt for his remaining days.

The story was inspired by the legend of the Cherokee blowgun. I’ve added my own little spin on it so it’s not the exact thing they tell. However, even today they gather for annual competition and “blowgun” is one of their most popular events.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

The Sparrow’s Song

Color Photography, winter

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “A Day For Blankets 120220” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The deep cold of the polar vortex pulls North America back to the Pleistocene. Each tiny snowflake glistens like a gemstone in the odd sunbeam that breaks through the low clouds. I watch from the window and listen to the tiny song sparrow that huddles somewhere in the deep cover of a hemlock thicket. He doesn’t complain. In spite of his tiny size he doesn’t seem to be bothered by cold. If the weather is nice he thanks God in song for the sunshine. When the rain comes he thanks God for worms that come up from the ground. And when it’s cold he thanks God for the shelter of the thick branches. His heart seems to made of fire and he warms himself from within. He is unseen by man but God doesn’t blink. God knows his every need and has provided it ahead of time. A few strips of bark and twigs along with down that the breeze brings in and the little sparrows are warm and cozy the cold north wind breaks through the mountains. And here am I in my own home nested beneath the quilts and pillows hiding from the frosty gale. And still my own heart is warmed by the sparrow’s song of gratitude. It is clear to me that my needs are met as well.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Forage Friday #93 Dogbane or Indian Hemp

Color Photography, Forage Friday

Dogbane fibers 11221 — Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image was taken specifically for Forage Friday. All photos found on my website are my original work and are available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Warning ⚠️ ALL OF MY REFERENCES LIST THIS PLANT AS TOXIC.

Please remember that Forage Friday is presented as trivia and is not to be mistaken for medical advice.

Dogbane ( Also known as Indian Hemp) is one of the first utilitarian plants I learned about when I started my journey into survivalism more than 30 years ago. Up until that point it was only food for the butterflies. But to to the Native Americans it was an important fiber plant. Rather than a long complex description of the extraction method here’s a video from of a gentleman who can show how the fiber is harvested.

The featured image is the seed pod which open this time of year and a few very fine fibers can be harvested from the pods but it’s really the stem that is used. It was these fibers that were used to tie up just about anything. We often think about native people using sinew and rawhide for cordage and for some things that was the best option. But Dogbane fibers were used for things like fishing nets and light lashings.

The fibers of Dogbane were able to hold up to the water where sinew gets kinda messy and will stick to itself if left in the water for too long. It’s the widespread use of this fiber that gives the plant the name Indian Hemp. I’m often told by cannabis actives about how the native population used hemp for food and medicine and rope. While I’m sure that they adopted the use in some ways cannabis wasn’t introduced to North America until after the white man arrived. It’s actually a native of Asia. But Dogbane filled the textile and cordage roll quite well in the pre-Columbian age.

As I stated in the disclaimer every single reference I have ever seen lists Dogbane as toxic and as the name suggests it is highly toxic to our furry family. The toxins can cause cardiac arrest in dogs which means that any product made from Dogbane should be kept well away from your best friend.

In spite of the dangers Dogbane is also listed as an edible. The sources say that the seeds can be ground into a flour and used cooked or raw. There’s not much more than that. Niw the reason for this is because the toxic chemicals are stored in the leaves and stem. It’s possible that small amounts are also found in the seeds and in low enough concentrations that humans can deal with it. But it couldn’t have ever been a main food source or there would be a richer history of it.

One thing that should be considered is the plant’s ability to clean up lead out of the soil. Apococynum cannabinum is considered a hyperaccumulator of lead. ( Also adding to the potential toxicity of the plant.) I suspect that it might also be able to collect and retain other heavy metals as well but that’s just conjecture.

There also seems to be a wide range of medicinal uses. The toxins do affect the heart rate and in the past was used to treat certain heart conditions. I suspect it’s done in the same way foxglove would be used but again. It’s a toxic plant and such a high risk use requires an expert with the equipment and training to monitor the effectiveness and weigh that against the risks. The list of uses is extensive and even includes wart removal, expelling parasites and increasing the flow of milk in young mothers. However, with the risk of cardiac arrest I think it’s best to look for one of the many other options. I suppose that if I were stranded on an island with no hope of rescue and Dogbane was the only medicinal plant available then I wouldn’t have much to lose but otherwise leave it for the experts.

The last thing I’ll cover is that it is an attractor of pollinators. Specifically the Snowberry Clearwing moth that I’m so fond of.

A Snowberry Clearwing Moth visiting ironweed. — Image Titled “September Visitor 90720” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

But hummingbird moths aren’t the only insects that frequent Dogbane. I’ve seen every type of bee and Wasp also visiting the blooms.

That’s it for tonight friends. Good night and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

A Breath Of Summer

Color Photography, wildlife

Red-winged Blackbird In Flight 79220 — Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled Red-winged Blackbird In Flight 70229″ and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

A warm breeze tickles the reeds that rise from the muddy shore of the marsh. All around me the sweet song of the red-winged blackbirds echo from every patch of brush and rush in the wetlands. The perfume of the swamp rose fills the air and its just the right time of day when the sun is out but it’s not too hot. The steady breeze continues to fill the landscape and connects all things. Even the fish playfully leap from the water to feel the wind in their faces. Life is in the living I’m told. The lesson from the summer breeze is to take time to breathe and be a part of God’s creation.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/